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Guanacaste Tours & Trips
23 Guanacaste trips. Tours from 11 tour companies. 24 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.
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Guanacaste Reviews & Ratings
G
Graham
Nov 2023
Written on
Cycle Costa Rica
Well planned, varied, good guide. Ideal for wildlife enthusiasts.
A
Adrian
Feb 2023
Written on
Cycle Costa Rica
Great itinerary with varied days seeing lots of wildlife and plants. ...
M
Maureen
Nov 2022
Written on
Cycle Costa Rica
So many highlights! Stopping for a swim in the lake at Arenal and having a delicious picnic lunch prepared by the trip leader Carlos and the back up crew Geoffrey Ju...
T
Trudy Hofstede
Dec 2022
Written on
Costa Rica Eco Adventure with Guanacaste Beach
Both German and Mikol were so knowledgeable on all wildlife and forest det...
C
Review of Tropical Costa Rica
Service rating : Yes. Everything was organized well and the guide was outstanding. It was a wonderful tour of New York. Product : It was a great tour. The guide w...
Guanacaste Tour Selection Trips
- Decide ahead of time whether or not you’re looking for a relaxing beach vacation, or an active, hiking-focused one. The differences between the two can be quite stark. While the coastlines are developed and very tourist friendly in Guanacaste, the national parks in the area can be very rustic and vast.
- If you are looking to save some money, consider buying your own groceries. There can be up to a 23% “tourist tax” (VAT and included tip) at local restaurants, so limiting your meals out can save a significant amount of money.
- If you are visiting one of the more popular beaches, like Tamarindo, don’t worry about packing snacks. You can expect locals hawking freshly cut coconuts, plantain chips, and other goodies to make their rounds. These treats are inexpensive, and delicious!
Additional details
When to Visit Guanacaste
Guanacaste has the driest climate in all of Costa Rica, although it does have a rainy season. The tourist season takes place during the dry season, which falls between December and March.
During this time, prepare for the heat (Guanacaste typically reaches temperatures of 94 to 100 F), but you will also never have to worry about the rain cancelling a beach day. The dry season is also well known for the trees that flower during it, and the monkeys they attract.
If you want to visit during the wet season, we recommend that you still do. You will not only benefit from lower prices, but it's unlikely that you will ever be drenched. The rainy season in Guanacaste usually consists of only partly cloudy days and occasional afternoon shower. You will still be able to visit the beach, probably everyday if you want to!
What to Wear in Guanacaste
Guanacaste is notoriously hot, sunny, and dry throughout its main tourist season, so make sure to dress appropriately. Wearing light, layered clothing, and bringing bathing suits as well as sun caps are musts.
If you are planning on exploring Guanacaste’s natural parks (which you should), make sure to pack some sturdier footwear, like waterproof sandals or sneakers.
Top 3 National Parks in Guanacaste
There are multiple national parks in the province of Guanacaste, and if you have a limited time there, it may be hard to decide where to go. Here is a list of the best parks in Guanacaste:
1. Palo Verde National Park - This park is spectacularly diverse for its size; it is both a wetland and prime example of a tropical dry forest. This park is known for its spectacular birding, and even has a small island called Isla de Pajaros -- or “Bird Island” -- the breeding ground of spoonbills, egrets, ibises, and herons.
The best season for birdwatching is the dry season, when many migratory birds spend their winters in the park. Another popular activity in Palo Verde is mountain biking, and there are many trails throughout the park to explore.
2. Rincón de la Vieja -This massive park has access to both Caribbean and Pacific coasts, and dozens of hiking, cycling, and horseback riding trails. The many tropical forest biomes in the park provide habitat for a variety of animals, include rarer mammals such as kinkajous, jaguars, monkeys, sloths, tapirs, and pumas.
For families and the adventurous, there are also great freshwater lagoons and hot springs throughout the park that are open to swimming, and if you love geothermal activities, be sure to check out the bubbling mud pits!
3. Guanacaste National Park - This park is for dedicated outdoorsmen who truly want to step off the beaten path. Guanacaste is a rustic, massive park with virgin forest, open pasturelands, and a prime destination for wildlife observation.
It is home to a wide variety of bird and animal species, which are able to travel freely between Guanacaste and neighboring Santa Rosa park. There are more scientific researchers in this untouched wilderness than tourists, so if isolation in nature appeals to you, Guanacaste is your park.
Food in Guanacaste
Most restaurants in Guanacaste serve typical Costa Rican fare, meaning rice, beans, plantains and corn are staples in the majority of dishes, along with a solid cup of coffee. However, some of the beach areas in Guanacaste are also popular tourist territories, so you can be sure to find some international and American fare in the region as well.
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